Subject Code Math 2 Intermediate Algebra

Module Code 4.0 Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

Lesson Code 4.1.1 Definition and Types of Systems of Linear Equations in Two
Variables (Lesson Proper)
Time Allocation: 30 Minutes

TARGET
After this lesson, you should be able to
▪ define systems of linear equations in two variables,
▪ define the different types of systems of linear equations, and
▪ determine whether a system is inconsistent/consistent(dependent/independent) using
graphical and analytical methods (comparing ratios of numerical coefficients).

HOOK TA: 5 Minutes* ATA**:

Filipinos continue to reel from the wide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. More workers lose
their jobs as lockdowns of varying strictness continue to be imposed in numerous parts of the country.
To make ends meet, many Filipinos now turn to bartering – the direct exchange of products and services
without the involvement of money.
The barter system is not new in the country. It is the oldest form of commerce that the country
adopted even before Spanish colonization. For the exchange to be fair, parties involved in a barter trade
must have a good sense of how much their product or service is worth. Consider the scenario below:

Jose is a fisherman who trades some of his catch and some bundles of garlic with essential goods
from a local store. The first time he went to the local store, he was able to trade 2 kilos of fish and 3
bundles of garlic with some rice, bread, and vegetables. He realized that the goods are worth
₱295.00. The second time they traded, he got ₱380.00 worth of essential goods in exchange with 3
kilos of fish and 2 bundles of garlic. If he trades 4 kilos of fish and a bundle of garlic, what must be
the worth of the essential goods that he’ll get in exchange?
To solve this problem, we can start by setting up linear equations to show the relationship of
the given quantities:
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 295
{ , where 𝑥 represents 1 kilo of fish and 𝑦 represents 1 bundle of garlic
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 380
The two equations form what we call a system of linear equations in two variables. When we
solve this kind of system of equations, we aim to look for all ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) that make both
equations in the system true. We use systems of equations like this to model and solve problems such
as those involving mixtures, revenue and cost, distance and time, turbulence, and interest. By the end
of Lesson 4.2, you must already be able to solve the problem above.
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 IGNITE TA: 25 Minutes* ATA**:

DEFINITION
A system of equations (also called simultaneous equations) is a set of two or more equations
each containing at least one variable. This lesson focuses on system of linear equations in two variables
which we define as follows:

SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES

A system of linear equations (or linear system) in two variables 𝑥 and 𝑦 is a set of linear
equations which may be written in the form
𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 𝑐1
{ 1 ,
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2

where 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑐1 , and 𝑐2 are real numbers. The brace tells us that the equations form a
system and must be considered together.
The systems of equations below are examples of systems of linear equations in two variables:
−4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 2 𝑥 = 21 0.01𝑥 + 0.001𝑦 = 0.1
A. { B. { C. {
𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 7 9𝑥 − 10𝑦 = 1 𝑦 = 0.0001

SOLUTION OF A SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES

An ordered pair is a solution of a system of linear equations in two variables if it is a common
solution of the equations in the system. For instance, we say that (−3, −2) is a solution of the system
−4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 2
{ because it makes both equations in the system true (as shown below).
𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 7

−4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 2 𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 7
−4(−3) + 5(−2) = 2 −3 − 5(−2) = 7
12 − 10 = 2 −3 + 10 = 7
2 = 2, 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 7 = 7, 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒

The point (2, 2), on the other hand, is NOT a solution of the system because it only satisfies the first
equation:

−4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 2 𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 7
−4(2) + 5(2) = 2 2 − 5(2) = 7
−8 + 10 = 2 2 − 10 = 7
2 = 2, 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 −8 = 7, 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒

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 A solution of a system of equations is interpreted −4𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 2
graphically as a point of intersection of the equations’
graphs. The graph of the system to the right shows that
(−3, −2) is the only solution of the system and that as
𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 7
shown earlier, (2, 2) is a solution of the first equation but
not of the second.

TYPES OF SYSTEMS OF LINEAR EQUATIONS IN TWO VARIABLES

The lines represented by the equations in a system of equations can intersect at exactly one
point, at all points (in this case, they are coinciding), or at no point at all. Based on the number of
solutions or intersections that a system has, the system may be classified as consistent and independent,
consistent and dependent, or inconsistent. The differences of these types of systems are summarized in
the table below. Notice that when a system is consistent, it has at least one solution.

CONSISTENT AND CONSISTENT AND

INCONSISTENT
INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT
Infinitely many
Number of Solutions One solution No solution
solutions
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

Graph

intersecting at one point coinciding (intersecting parallel (no intersection)

at all points)

Slopes of lines unequal equal equal

can be the same
𝒚 − intercepts of lines (in which case, it is the point of the same not the same
intersection)

Ratio of coefficients
𝑎1 𝑏 𝑎1 𝑏
*Given the system in
𝑎2
= 𝑏1 𝑎2
= 𝑏1
𝑎1 𝑏 2 2
the form ≠ 𝑏1
𝑎2 2 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐1
𝒂 𝒙 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒚 = 𝒄𝟏 Also, 𝑎1 = 𝑏1 = 𝑐1 Also, 𝑎1 = 𝑏1 ≠ 𝑐2
{ 𝟏 2 2 2 2 2
𝒂𝟐 𝒙 + 𝒃𝟐 𝒚 = 𝒄𝟐

{(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑎1𝑥 + 𝑏1𝑦 = 𝑐1 }

{(𝑥, 𝑦)} or, equivalently,

Solution Set {(𝑥, 𝑦)|𝑎2𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2}
{} or ∅
Where 𝑥 and 𝑦 make both
equations in the system true.
(that is, the set of all points
contained by the coinciding
lines)

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 Note that the equations in an independent system cannot be algebraically derived from each
other. By this, we mean that an equation in the system cannot be derived from the other by multiplying
or dividing its terms by the same constant. It follows that if a system is dependent, an equation in the
system can be algebraically derived from the other equation.
Consider the consistent and dependent system below. The second equation can be derived by
multiplying the terms of the first equation by −3. Likewise, the first equation can be derived by
1
multiplying the terms of the second equation by − 3.

4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5 (4𝑥 − 3𝑦)(−3) = (5)(−3) −12𝑥 + 9𝑦 = −15

{ { {
−12𝑥 + 9𝑦 = −15 −12𝑥 + 9𝑦 = −15 −12𝑥 + 9𝑦 = −15

4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5
{ { 1 1 {
−12𝑥 + 9𝑦 = −15 (−12𝑥 + 9𝑦) (− 3) = (−15) (− 3) 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 5

Since the equations are basically the same, they have the same solution set and represent the
same line.

Deepen your understanding by analyzing these examples:

Examples Determining the type of system
Determine if the given system is consistent or inconsistent. If the system is consistent,
determine if it is independent or dependent.
*There are many ways by which you can determine the type of a system given. You may
(1) graph the lines and check the number of intersections, (2) write the equations in slope – intercept
form and compare their slopes and 𝑦 −intercepts, or (3) compare the ratio of the corresponding
coefficients and the ratio of the constant terms given that the equations are written in the same form.
Use the table in the previous page as a guide.

𝑥=7
1. { Visualize the system:
𝑦=4
In the first quarter, you learned that an equation in the form
𝑥 = 𝑐, where 𝑐 is a real number, represents a vertical line. On the
other hand, an equation in the form 𝑦 = 𝑐, where 𝑐 is a real 𝑦=4
number, represents a horizontal line.
The first equation in the system represents a vertical line
while the second equation represents a horizontal line. When graphed 𝑥=7
on the same plane, these lines will definitely intersect at exactly one
point. Thus, the system is consistent and independent.

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 1
𝑦 = −5𝑥 − 2 Visualize the system:
2. {
𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 2

Notice that the two lines have equal 𝑦 −intercepts while 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 2

their slopes are negative reciprocals of each other. Recall from
the first quarter that if this is the case, then the lines are
perpendicular – the two lines intersect each other at a right angle.
Thus, the system is consistent and independent.
1
𝑦=− 𝑥−2
5

8𝑥 + 𝑦 = −6
3. { 1
Visualize the system:
−4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3
2
Just like in the previous example, you can determine what
type of system this is by comparing the slopes and 𝑦 − intercepts of
the lines, but this entails rewriting the equations in slope – intercept 8𝑥 + 𝑦 = −6
form first.
An easier way is to simply compare the ratio of the
coefficients of 𝑥 to the ratio of the coefficients of 𝑦 and the ratio of
the constant terms:
8 1 6 1
= 1 = −3 −2 = −2 = −2 −4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3
2
−4 −2

Since the ratios are equal (which means that one equation can be algebraically derived from
the other), the system is consistent and dependent.

−10𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −2
4. {
10𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 4

We know from the table that the linear system Visualize the system:
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑏1 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
{ is inconsistent if 𝑎1 = 𝑏1 ≠ 𝑐1 . Notice that this is
𝑎2 𝑥 + 𝑏2 𝑦 = 𝑐2 2 2 2
exactly the case for the given system: 10𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 4

−10 2 −2 −1
10
= −2 ≠ 4
−1 = −1 ≠ 2

We can also see that the system is inconsistent by

comparing the slopes and y−intercepts of the lines. Since the lines
have equal slopes but different 𝑦 − intercepts, the lines are parallel.
−10𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −2

Slope-intercept form
−10𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −2 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 1
10𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 4 𝑦 = 5𝑥 − 2

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 OPTIONAL ONLINE RESOURCE
Follow the story of the hare and the tortoise to deepen your understanding of systems of linear
equations in two variables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75m60SxFfJg
(Part 1)

REFERENCES:
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. (Based on Ramos, E.G and N. Apolinario (n.d.) Science
LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.)
Goldman, S. & Rodriguez, M. [MyWhyU]. (2014, August 28). Algebra 35 - Systems of linear
equations in two variables [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75m60SxFfJg

-End-

Prepared by: Ms. Melodee T. Pacio Reviewed by: Mr. Paolo Luis DG. Apolinario
Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) II Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) III
Campus: PSHS – Main Campus Campus: PSHS – Main Campus

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